Even though a fire destroyed the Blaeu printing works in 1672, the copperplate for the world map miraculously survived, and was subsequently acquired by the Van Keulen dynasty of mapmakers, being included in some of their atlases between 1681 and 1685.



 (1571-1638) was the founder of a cartographic dynasty. The Blaeu family is synonymous with the finest mapmaking of the Golden Age of Dutch. Willem Jansz. had studied astronomy and instrument making under 

 in his observatory at Uranienborg in 1594, before moving to Amsterdam. In 1605, he had his own shop there, close to his contemporaries and rivals 

 and Jacob Colom. He was granted a privilege to print a navigational guide in 1606. Two years later, he produced a set of large carte-à-figure wall maps of the four continents and published ‘Het Licht der Zeevaerdt’, a traditional oblong format pilot with coastal profiles to accompany the sailing instructions. 

Blaeu designed a completely original globe in 1599, and his subsequent productions were distinguished by their up-to-date astronomical information. His greatest globes (from 1616), measured 26-inches in diameter.



’s sons joined him in the firm, with the eldest, Joan (1596–1673) quickly assuming the lead. Joan went to university in Leiden, studying mathematics and astronomy. After returning to work for his father, they produced their first atlas together in 1630, the ‘

 Appendix’. Five years later, they produced their ‘

 Novus’ with double the number of maps and published in four languages. After 

 Maior’, the largest and grandest atlas of its time. Any issue had between nine and twelve volumes, beautifully engraved and coloured, and cost as much as a house in Amsterdam. He also issued a vast wall-map in 20 sheets in 1648, ‘Nova totius terrarium orbs tabula’.

The Blaeu’s new world map was created by 

Maior). Unlike the first Blaeu family atlas map, which had been their standard since 1630, this map depicts the world in two hemispheres. 

The cartography has been updated since the Blaeu wall map of 1648, on which competitors, like the Visscher family and 

 were basing their maps. The Californian coastline appears in greater detail, and ‘Nova Albion’, ‘Pt. Sr. Franco Draco’, and part of ‘Anian’ are all new features on a Blaeu map. ‘Yesso’ (Hokkaido) and other phantom islands fill the northwest Pacific while New Zealand has a partial coast glimpsed by Abel Tasman on his voyage in 1642. Van Diemen’s Land floats south of mainland Australia. The rest of the continent is studded with place names of Dutch origin, a result of the East India Company’s frequent encounters with the continent on their voyages to the region.

Outside the twin hemispheres at the top are celestial figures seated amid clouds. Below are representations of the four seasons with each allegorical figure seated in an appropriate chariot quaintly drawn by pairs of beasts and birds.

 (1571–1638) was the founder of a cartographic family dynasty synonymous with the finest mapmaking of the Golden Age of Dutch cartography. Between 1594 and 1596, as a student of the Danish astronomer 

, he qualified as an instrument and globemaker. During this time in 1596, his son 

 was born and he would also become a well-established cartographer. 

He established his firm in Amsterdam, specializing in country maps, world globes, and other cartographic materials, and as he possessed his own printing works, he was able to regularly produce country maps in an atlas format, some of which appeared in his ‘

 Novus’ published in 1635. In 1633 he was appointed mapmaker of the Dutch East India Company. He was also an editor and published works of Descartes, Barlaeus, Hugo Grotius, and others.



's sons joined him in the firm, with the eldest Joan (1596–1673) quickly assuming the lead. Joan went to university in Leiden, studying mathematics and astronomy. After returning to work for his father, they produced their first atlas together in 1630, the ‘

 Novus’ with double the number of maps and published in four languages. Following 

Maior), the largest and grandest atlas of its time.

The Blaeu family’s world map, created by 

 Maior’ of 1662, replaced the first Blaeu family atlas map, which had been their standard since 1630. As with all productions of the Blaeu firm, the engraving, layout, and elegance of decoration are all of the highest standard. The map is invariably printed on thick paper of quality and often superbly hand-coloured. Outside the twin hemispheres at the top are celestial figures seated amid clouds; below are representations of the four seasons with each allegorical figure seated in an appropriate chariot quaintly drawn by pairs of beasts and birds. 

The Blaeu family’s new world map, created by 

 Maior’ of 1662, replacing the first Blaeu family atlas map, which had been their standard since 1630. Jerry Brotton suggests that this is the first world map in an atlas to portray the Copernican solar system.

Blaeu's World Map, showing the Copernican solar system